Current Affairs Summary

Global and National Reports/Indices

• WADA's 2024 Testing Figures Report: India topped the list for anti-doping rule violations for the third consecutive year (2022, 2023, 2024). In 2024, 260 Indian athletes tested positive (highest globally). WADA was established in 1999 with headquarters in Montreal, Canada.
• Makhana (Fox Nut) Production: India is the world's largest producer, accounting for 80% of global production. Bihar is India's largest producer (85% of national production), with Darbhanga as a key center. The National Makhana Board was established on September 15, 2025, in Purnia, Bihar.
• Times Higher Education World University Rankings: Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, is the top Indian institute.

Awards and Honors

• PM Modi's International Awards: Received the "Great Honor of Nishan" from Ethiopia and the "Order of Oman" (Oman's highest civilian award) from Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
• CEAT Cricket Lifetime Achievement Award 2025: Awarded to Brian Lara (West Indies) and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India).
• Hornbill Festival: Nagaland's festival received the Silver Banyan Award for cultural music and dance.

International Relations and Events

• PM Modi's Foreign Visits: Visited Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
• India-Oman Relations: A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed to boost trade. India constructed the Duqm Port in Oman.
• PM Modi's Tribute in Ethiopia: Paid respects at the Adwa Victory Memorial in Addis Ababa, commemorating Ethiopia's victory over Italy in the 1896 Battle of Adwa.
• New York Declaration: Related to a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue.
• SCO Summit 2027: Pakistan will host the summit (Tianjin, China, is the host for 2025).
• CIA Nuclear Device in Himalayas: US intelligence agency CIA reportedly lost a nuclear device in the Himalayas 60 years ago (around 1965), a revelation made now.

National Events and Infrastructure

• Veer Savarkar Sports Complex: India's largest sports complex, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Ahmedabad.
• Bairabi-Sairang Rail Link: Established the first rail connectivity in Aizawl, Mizoram.
• Broad Gauge Network: 99.2% of India's broad gauge rail network has been electrified.
• Dhruv 64: India's microprocessor.
• India's First Yoga Ayurveda Patanjali University Cluster.
• National Commercial Agricultural Research Institute: Established in Rajahmundry.
• Urea Plant: Established in Namrup, Assam.
• Haldiboard: Established in Nizamabad, Telangana.

Defense and Security

• Indian Navy Commissions:
  • INS Androth, an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ship.
  • First indigenously designed Diving Support Craft (DSC A20) in Kochi, by the Southern Naval Command. It supports diving operations and maintains underwater stability using a Catamaran hull. Manufactured by Titagarh Rail System Limited (Kolkata) under a Ministry of Defence agreement (five such crafts planned).
• Joint Commanders Conference 2025: Inaugurated by PM Modi in Kolkata.
• Desert Cyclone: Joint exercise between India and UAE.

Appointments and Demises

• Indian Military Academy (IMA): Sai Jadhav (from Kolhapur, Maharashtra) became the first female officer to pass out in IMA's 93-year history. She will join the Territorial Army as a Lieutenant.
  • Notable Women in Defense/Sports: Rupa Baor (first Indian female Taekwondo player in World Top 10 from Arunachal Pradesh), Aastha Poonia (first female fighter pilot in Indian Navy), Chojing Agam (first blind Indian woman to climb Mount Everest).
• Ram Vanji Sutar (Deceased): Renowned Indian sculptor, passed away at 100 years old. He designed the Statue of Unity (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, 182m, Gujarat), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's equestrian statue, and many statues of Mahatma Gandhi. He received the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2016), and the Maharashtra Bhushan Award.
• SBI MD: Ravi Ranjan.

Government and Policy

• Hansi District, Haryana: Declared as the 23rd district of Haryana by CM Nayab Saini, separated from Hisar district.
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy: Unveiled the first national policy on Geothermal Energy.
• Supreme Court Ruling: Political party offices are excluded from the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Act.

Sports

• Liverpool World Boxing Championship (57 kg category): Gold medal won by Jasmine.
• Women's Hockey Asia Cup 2025: China won, with India as runner-up.
• Tennis Premier League (TPL) 2025: GS Delhi Aces won against Mumbai Eagles (host: Gujarat University Stadium).
• Odisha Masters Badminton 2025: Unnati Hooda won the women's title, and Kiran George won the men's title.
• IPL Winner: RCB (defeated Punjab).
• WPL Winner: Mumbai (defeated Delhi).
• FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 (Women's category, Samarkand, Uzbekistan): Won by Vaishali Ramesh Babu.

Culture and Observances

• International Migrants Day (2025): Celebrated on December 18 with the theme "My Great Story."
• Minorities Rights Day: Celebrated on December 18. India has six recognized minority communities.
• Goa Liberation Day: Celebrated on December 19, marking Operation Vijay in 1961 when Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule.
• RBI Commemorative Coin: A ₹100 coin was released on the birth centenary of Bhupen Hazarika.
• Hanukkah Festival: Celebrated by the Jewish community.

Other Notable Mentions

• Biography "Billom's Dilemma": A biography about Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• India's Fastest Train: "Namo Bharat" (Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System).